ROUTE EXAMINING SYSTEM AND METHOD

摘要

A route examining system (102, 200; 500) includes an application device (210; 510), a control unit (206; 506), a detection unit (218; 518), and an identification unit (220; 520). The application device (210; 510) is onboard a first vehicle (104, 106, 202; 502) of a first vehicle system (100, 300) traveling along a route (108). The control unit (206; 506) controls supply of electric current from a power source (212, 228; 512, 528) to the application device (210; 510) in order to electrically inject an examination signal into the route (108) via the application device (210; 510). The detection unit (218; 518) monitors electrical characteristics of the route (108) in response to the examination signal being injected into the route (108). The identification unit (220; 520) examines the one or more electrical characteristics of the route (108) in order to determine whether a section of the route (108) extending between the application device (210; 510) and the detection unit (218; 518) is potentially damaged based on the one or more electrical characteristics.